The kit that could save lives

All off-piste skiers should wear a transceiver (which transmits a radio signal so you can be found when buried, or can be switched to 'receive' so you can locate someone else) and carry a shovel and probe. But this new kit could improve your chances even further:

The ABS airbag (from about £400)

Pull the rip-cord and two huge airbags explode out of the side of this rucksac, powered by a gas canister. They turn the skier into a much larger, but not heavier, object which is naturally propelled to the top as the snow mass rolls down.

Pros: Not being buried is by far the best way of surviving an avlanche.

This device helps you to breathe if you are buried, taking oxygen from the surrounding snow.

Pros: affordable and easy to wear.

Cons: you are still reliant on someone else to dig you out. (www.avalung.com)

The avalanche ball (£135)

A buried skier will be found faster if part of them or their kit is showing above the snow, and this is what the ball tries to do. Pull the rip cord and the collapsed ball which sits on top of your rucksac springs into shape and is released at the end of a rope, the other end of which is around your waist. The ball stays on top of the snow.

Pros: light, simple, you can practise with it often without worrying about wasting gas cannisters.

Cons: pulling a rip-cord may be tricky, as in Pierre Francois's case. (www.lawinenball.at)

· The Ski Club of Great Britain runs a series of avalanche awareness talks in the UK before the start of the season. See www.skiclub.co.uk